Hydrangea plant named ‘HIFLA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HIFLA’, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and reblooming flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with red purple-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HIFLA’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATE APPLICATIONS

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘HIHAI’

Applicant: Roy Robin van Dijk

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Hi Breeding B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands, on Sep. 9, 2019, application number 2019/2200. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HIFLA’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy and strong Hydrangea plants with attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination in March, 2011 of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 1340, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 1014, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in April, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by terminal vegetative cuttings since June, 2016 in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HIFLA’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HIFLA’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and broadly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and reblooming flowering habit.     -   5. Large and dense inflorescences with red purple-colored         sterile flowers.     -   6. Good post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are         darker red purple green in color than sterile flower sepals of         plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are more         cupped than and not as flat as sterile flower sepals of plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea will rebloom whereas plants of         the male parent selection do not rebloom.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HIHAI’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HIHAI’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger leaves than plants of         ‘HIHAI’.     -   2. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are red         purple in color whereas sterile flower sepals of plants of         ‘HIHAI’ are white in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Leuchtfeuer’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differed primarily from plants of ‘Leuchtfeuer’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of ‘Leuchtfeuer’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are glossier than         leaves of plants of ‘Leuchtfeuer’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Leuchtfeuer’ do not rebloom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HIFLA’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘HIFLA’, and the photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘HIFLA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the early spring in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. and lightly levels were about 4,000 lux for 16 hours per day. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants are not typically “blued” (treated with aluminum sulfate).

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HIFLA’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 1340, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 1014, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures about 19° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, broadly outwardly spreading             and mounding plant habit; flattened globular in overall             shape; strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate; about six months from             propagation are required to produce a finished flowering             plant.         -   Plant height.—About 29.4 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 46.8 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about eight             lateral branches per plant; pinching is not required, but             will enhance lateral branch development.         -   Length.—About 15.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.9 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Aspect.—About 50° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A; tinged at the internodes             with close to N186C.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to between 144B and 146D;             tinged at the internodes with close to N186C; woody, close             to between 199A to N199C.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse to medium. Length: About 1.5 mm.             Width: About 0.75 mm. Color: Close to N186C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 12.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to broadly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Short attenuate to acute.         -   Margin.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Slightly to moderately             rugose, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately rugose,             glabrous; somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144A and             N144C. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 147A and N189A; venation, close to 146D. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 147D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             144B; at the margins, close to 144A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy rotate sterile flowers and             small, inconspicuous rotate fertile flowers arranged on             mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular             in shape; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly and             fertile flowers mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In the garden, plants flower             continuously from the late spring to late summer in The             Netherlands; plants reblooming.         -   Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; sterile             flowers maintain good substance for about six weeks on the             plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about three days on the plant, fertile flowers not             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 85             sterile flowers per panicle and about 30 fertile flowers per             panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 15.1 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Broad cup-shaped. Color: Close to 150C to             150D; distally, tinged with close to 58A.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             4.5 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 64D;             proximally, close to 150D.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four, or             occasionally five, in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate, concave. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to N66C; towards the             margins, close to 75D. When opening, lower surface: Close to             76D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N66C; towards the             margins, close to 75D; color does not change with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 64D.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 64C; towards the margins, close to 75D;             colors do not change with development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 64D; color does not             change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four, occasionally three or five, in a single whorl. Length:             About 2.4 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Reniform to             broadly deltoid. Apex: Broad and bluntly acute to obtuse.             Base: Broadly cuneate to truncate. Margin: Entire to             shallowly crenate; slightly and coarsely undulate. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to between             59C and 60A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 59D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 58A and 60B;             with development, color becoming closer to 59B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 59D; color does not change             with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 150D. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 150D; distal half slightly tinged with             close to 64D; color does not change with development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35°             from peduncle. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 185D.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°             from peduncle. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 185D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to 185D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to between 156A and             156B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155B.             Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length:             About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to 65D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 65B             to 65C. Ovary color: Close to 150D.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:             Close to 185D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther length:             About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to between 156A and 156B.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155B.             Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length:             About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to 65D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 65B             to 65C. Ovary color: Close to 150D.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant     to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HIFLA’ as illustrated and described. 